3- Presents botanical studies by sixty gold medal winning artists, from the Lindley Collections at the Royal Horticultural Society, the country's leading gardening charity- A historical essay explores the long-standing relationship between artists and the RHS- Introduces each medalist with a short biography and discussion of their winning composition- Features a diverse range of artists from across the globe Botanical Illustration: a genre of art that endeavors faithfully to depict and represent the form, color and detail of a plantAbiding by this definition, the RHS Lindley Library has secured approximately 30,000 splendid illustrations of buds, fruit, flowers and leaves since they first started commissioning artists in 1806. The Royal Horticultural Society: Botanical Illustration - Gold Medal Winners represents a cross-section of recent gold medalists from around the world. The RHS only award their gold medal to the most outstanding exhibitions, encouraging the international artistic community to perform to the highest standard. This gold medal is a highly-coveted testament to an artist's abilities, and the illustrations gathered in these pages demonstrate great attention to detail, masterful color work and outstanding technical skill. Insightful commentary on the artists' creative process accompanies each picture. The perfect book for the lover of horticulture, as well as an excellent reference both for botanists and aspiring artists, this collection also includes an introductory essay that delves into the history of the RHS.